Genealogy Corner… Web Indexing

Issue 34.17

The new web indexing at https://familysearch.org/indexing/my-indexing is in full swing. In fact, there is already a great need for reviewers. In web indexing, we need to review EVERY SINGLE BATCH, sometimes more than once. In desktop indexing, we only needed to arbitrate half as many batches as we indexed. This change makes it necessary for MORE indexers to be involved, and for them to do MORE review than they did arbitration. As a result, we want to look at review as something that we all do, once we understand how indexing works – not something that is reserved for a select few. It is a completely different mindset.

What’s the Difference between Indexing Peer Review and Arbitration? Arbitration is an activity available in the desktop indexing program. It is the process of reconciling any differences in the results provided by two separate indexers. Indexing peer review is a new activity in web indexing. In this activity, indexers open a batch that has been previously indexed, then review the entries in the batch to correct any obvious mistakes or omissions.

If the indexer giving the peer review changes a certain number of entries within the batch, it is sent through peer review again to help ensure that the quality of the batch remains high. Every indexer who reaches 1,000 records indexed has an opportunity to help with this process and improve the quality of the searchable records on FamilySearch.org.

Right now, we are over 10 million records behind, which shows how great a need we have for additional help in reviewing records. 13 million have been indexed and only 3 million reviewed since the release of the new web based program.

Some of you are worried about people who are new to indexing also reviewing, and they do need indexers to have some experience to be able to review. To review, you need to become very familiar with the project instructions and field helps. Know where to find the instructions to refer to them when in question. Index at least one batch in a record set before you review it. There is a knowledge article in the FamilySearch help center titled, “How to Review” that you can read.  Focus on becoming detail oriented. Be committed to reading and following directions and be willing to ask others for help.

Once these batches have been indexed and reviewed it shows on the graph how far the record set is from completion. This way we can watch the progress and choose sets that are nearing completion. Once they are completed they go to FamilySearch in the Historical Records to be searched. They also are compared with the FamilySearch Family Tree and added as record hints.  Indexing and Reviewing are a very important part of the whole process. It is being referred to as, “One great work.”

For more information, contact Shanna Jones shannasjones@msn.com